Post on 14-Mar-2018
Viceroy Research Group 1 viceroyreseach.org
Viceroy release MiMedx EOB emails Viceroy has obtained emails instructing physicians how to falsify MiMedx Q -codes to
fraudulently increase reimbursement
Viceroy have obtained printouts of emails sent from MiMedx employees specifically instructing physicians on
how to fraudulently increase Medicare reimbursement.
An EOB document titled “EpiFix - Made Easy” has been sent to Viceroy, which appears to
be advice from MiMedx to physicians on how to receive Medicare reimbursements for
their product.
One problem: this advice was provided to surgical clients; whose products are ineligible for Medicare
reimbursement.
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Background For every Medicare claim for a product used, a claim must be lodged for reimbursement with a corresponding
code detailing the products used and for what purpose. These codes are referred to as HCPCS (Healthcare
Common Procedure Coding System) codes or Q-codes within MiMedx. This is because Epifix is coded Q4131.
Viceroy has previously detailed a scheme through which MiMedx instructs physicians on how to manipulate the
HCPCS system to fraudulently increase reimbursement for the use of non-reimbursed MiMedx products.
The incriminating emails are presented on the following page.
MiMedx emails instructing Q-code manipulation
Figure 1 – MiMedx EOB document
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Figure 2 – MiMedx leaked email attaching EOB document
To put this into context:
Note the full explanation of how the Medicare reimbursement scheme works and the benefits. In anticipation
of a MiMedx response claiming that this is an innocent informative letter (and broadly in line with business
acumen): it is unclear as to why MiMedx is instructing healthcare providers and physicians how to code
reimbursement. We note that MiMedx are not qualified to provide federal reimbursement training. If they were,
Aaron Rosenberger would know that you cannot disclaim liability on coding advice as “for educational purposes
only”.
Further the letter specifically includes instructions for Medicare only.
Per whistleblower advice and corroborated by physicians (who have also reported this
activity to regulators), the reason for this memo is that MiMedx’s surgical line is not
covered for reimbursement under Medicare's reimbursement system.
This includes:
- Amniofix (allograft, surgical, injectable, sports med and wrap)
- Amniocord
- Amniofill
These products are coded with the HCPCS code J3590 which are entitled to no reimbursement in 2017:
Figure 3 Extract from PacificSource Health Plans – New and Emerging Technologies Coverage Status1
In order to boost reimbursement and incentivize sales of these products the above
documents were provided to physicians. This is done through disguising these
procedures as uses of its Epifix product for skin substitute application.
1 https://www.pacificsource.com/provider/new-and-emerging-technologies.pdf
Note from source:
“Every AVP / ASO & AE on the
woundcare side are selling off-
coding & reimbursement”
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Figure 4 Extract from the hcpcs.codes website Q4131 page2
Unlike Amniocord, Epifix is filed under a Q4131 reimbursement code which is entitled to reimbursement
payments.
Note that the reimbursement amounts correspond to the amounts mentioned in the materials provided to
Viceroy by former employees.
Experts in the field we consulted informed us that this is due to the incidental nature of skin substitute
operations compared to the more predictable nature of amniotic fluid injections.
Conclusion The evidence presented above shows MiMedx instructing physicians on how to fraudulently increase Medicare
reimbursement. This adds to the mountain of evidence already presented against the company.
Viceroy will be releasing further evidence against MiMedx and their involvement in the fraudulent Q-code
scheme, including training sessions provided to surgical clients.
2 https://hcpcs.codes/q-codes/Q4131/